Apparatus for seaming containers



May 16, 1933 F/H. DANLELL. 1,908,822

APPARATUS FOR SEAMING CONTAINERS Filed Nov. 28, 1930 3 Sheets-Sheet l 5 l j 26.11 ifA X/ V g By; WHA/ 5%@ May 16, 1933. Ff H'DANIELL 1,908,822

APPARATUS FOR SEAMING CONTAINERS Filed Nov. 28, 1950 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 May 16, 1933. F. H, DANIELL APPARATUS FOR SEAMING CONTAINERS Filed Nov. 28, 1930 3 SheetsSheeTl 3 Patented May 16, 1933 UNTED STATES Pari-in- Fries .APPARATUSl FCR SEAIVIING CON'IINERS Application filed November 28, 1930, Serial No.

lThis invention relates to an improved apparatus for folding or seaming the meeting edges of wrappers or containers of metal foil and the like, such as those employed in the packing of foodstuffs and other materials. I am aware that mechanism has previously been proposed for seaming containers of this character, but such mechanism embodies moulds for forming and supporting the containers and cannot be employed when the containers are removed from the moulds and placed in open cartons or the like prior to being lled. Y l

Now, the object of the present invention is to provide improved folding orseaming mechanism which may be readily employed for folding the meeting edges of adjacent portions of containers, and which obviates i the necessity of employing separate moulds for supporting same7 thus reducing packing costs. Y

A salient feature of the invention resides in the method and apparatus for folding the opposed side flanges of'four-sided containers before or after folding the opposed end flanges thereof.

The folding mechanism embodies one or more pairs of movable jaws having inclined faces adapted to engage opposite sides of parallelly arranged portions ofthe wrapper or container. The jawspreferably are also provided with portions disposed substantially parallel to the direction ofV movement thereof, and a plunger is employed to turn down the free edges of the adjacent portions of the wrapper after same have rbeen turned to the desired angle bythe engagement of said jaws.

The laterally movable jaws of each pair are preferably supported on a common pivot arranged above the containers and a plurality of such units may be so arranged that both ends of the wrapper are first folded simultaneously, after 'which the opposed side portions are folded in unison.

A pressing device may also be provided for completing the seam by pressing the folded portions firmly against the adjacent surface of the container.

lVhilstthe inventionis described herein- 498,876, and in Australia DecemberV 11, 1929.

after as adapted for the seaming of separate top portions to the sides and ends of open containers or wrappers, it will vbe apparent that it may be readily employed for securing the meeting edges of wrappers formed from one or more piecesof foil or the vlike arranged in different ways.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a view in elevation of appara-` tus constructed and arranged in accordance with the invention, parts being broken vawayV for convenience of illustration.

Figure 2 is a view in plan ofthe apparatus shown in Figure 1. v

Figure 3 is a view in sectional end elevation taken on the line 3-3 of Figure 1 -ligure 1l is a view in perspective of a detai Figure 5 is a view in sectional side elevation taken onl the line 5 5 of Figure 1.

Figure 6 is a View similar to Figure 5 and shows a successive operation.

Figure 7 is a view in elevation of apressing device.

Figures 8 to 12 are views illustrating successive stages in the formation of a double seam in accordance with the invention; and

Figures 13 and 14 are views showing stagesA in theformatio-n of a single seam.

Referring to the drawings, the reference numeral 10 designates an intermittently movable conveyor which is actuated by approved mechanism (not shown) and which is adapted to successively position cartons 11 in operative relationship to the seaming apparatus.

Before registering with the seaming mechanism the cartons 11 have been provided with containers 12 of foil or other material which are open at the top and which, after being filled with cheese or other substance, are fitted with top portions 13 having upwardly extending side and end flanges 14 as illustrated in Figure 8 of the drawings.

It will thus be understood that the carton 11 and foil containers 12 are in the condition shown in Figure 8 when they reach station I indicated in Figure 1 of the drawings.

The mechanism for forming the containers 12 and for filling same and placing the top portions 13 in position does not form part of the present invention.

rlwo pairs of levers 15 are pivotally mounted above the conveyor adjacent to the station I and are so arranged that, when a carton is positioned therebelow, opposed jaws 16 formed on the lower ends thereof are disposed in vertical alignment with the projecting end flanges 14 of the top portions 13 and the adjacent portions or the ends of the wrappers12. i l

The length of the jaws 16 corresponds approximately to, but is slightly less'than', the distance between the side flanges 14 of the top portion 13 of the container 12.

Each pairof levers 15 is mounted on av common pivot pin 17 the opposite ends of which are fitted to opposed arms 18arranged between beams 19 of channel cross section which are mounted on the beams carrying the intermittently movable conveyor land the ends of the pivot pins 17 project throughV vertical guide slots 2O in the webs of the said beams.

A vertical push rod 21 is arranged at one-` sideof the machine and is provided at its upper end with an inwardly turned portion 22-passing through a clearance slot in the adjacent beam 19 and pivotally supporting the `opposed arms 18carrying the pairs of levers is rotated, the pairs of levers 15 are 'raised and lowered in unison.

The levers 15 are provided with upward extensions 27 and the extensions forming each pair are A connected by means of tension springs 28 whereby their inner surfaces are caused to bear against the peripheries of in'- termediately disposed cams 29 secured to transverse spindles 30. f

Each of the cams 29 is provided with a pair of opposed projections whereby, when the spindles 30 are rotated, the pairs of levers will be opened and closed simultaneously in the ymanner of scissors.

The spindles 30 are mounted in `bearings 31 supported on the upper flanges of the beams 19 and said spindles are lit-ted at one of their ends with sprockets 33 engaged by an endless chain 34. j

The spindles 30 are'adapted to be rota-ted at twice the speed of the horizontal spindle 26 and motion may be communicated from the latter by means of an endless chain 35 passing from the sprocket 36 on one of the spindles 30 toa sprocket 37 having twice as many teeth fitted to an intermediate shaft 38 connected, by mitre gears 39, to the spindle 26.

The jaws 16 on the lower ends of the levers 15 are provided with inclined portions 16 and portions l16,2 substantially parallel to the direction of movement thereof whereby,`when same are closed upon the upwardly extending portions or flanges of the container and top member, said flanges are bent inwardly as illustratedin Figures 1 and 9 of the drawings, thus forming an inclined portion and a horizontal ledge.

A vertically movable slotted plate 40 a1'- ranged between the beams 19 and supported on the upper ends of push rods 41 is disposed above vthe intermittently movable conveyor 10 and is litted with a pair of relatively thin depending plungers 42 each of which is normally disposed intermediate one of the pairs of levers 15 carrying the co-operating folding jaws 16. v

The lower ends of the push rods 41 are connected bya cross bar 43 carrying a roller 44 which constantly engages a cam 45 on the shaft 26 and the cam 45 is so shaped that, when the initial bending-operation above described yis completed and the jaws 16 are opened, the plungers 42 are moved downwardly to impart a downward set to the hori- Zontal ledges-'formed bythe said jaws along the upper extremities of the said projecting portions of the ends of the foil container and the top portion (Figure 10). v

Upon the retraction of the plungers 42 the levers 15 lare lagain vactuated in the manner above setforth whereby the jaws 16 on the lowerlends'` thereof move inwardly to fold the portion having the downward set against the inwardly inclined portion disposed adjacentthereto (Figure 11) A The jaws 16 are then opened again by means of the cams 29 and the levers 15 are elevated'by means of the push'rod 21 and cam 25thus raising the jaws 16 clear of the wrapper.

The conveyor 10 is then actuated intermittently to move the carton from station I to station Il whilst simultaneously the next following carton 11 is brought into register with the 'folding mechanism at station I.

The folding mechanism at station Il is adapted to form the seam in the side flanges 14 of the container and top portion and same preferably consists of a pair of centrally pivoted levers 46 which are mounted on a common pivot pin 47 supported by the central portions of a pair of spaced transverse arms 48, the ends of which project through slots 49 in the Vwebs of the beams 19.

-The outer ends of the spaced transverse arms are connected by bolts 50 pivotallyenr bracedbythe upper ends or vertical push rods 51 which are guided in bearings and connected at their lower ends by a transverse.

shaft 26, the period of elevation correspondy ing to the actua-tion of the intermittently movable conveyor 10 whereby the said jaws will be liftedclear of the container after the edges thereof have been folded and will remain clear whilst a fresh container is being moved into register therewith.

The levers 46 which are arranged in alplane at right angles to the plane of the levers 15 are bifurcated at their lower ends thereby forming two pairs of co-operating jawsadapted to open and close in unison and corresponding in shape to the jaws 16.

The length of the aws 55 is preferably slightly less than the length of the containers 12 as clearly shown in Figure 1.

The levers 46 are provided with upward extensions 56 which are connected at their upper ends by tension springs 57, and a cam 58 fitted to a longitudinally disposed spindle 59 bears against the adjacent inner surfaces of the said extensions.

The spindle 59 which is supported in bearings mounted above the beams 19 is fitted at one end with a. bevel pinion 60 which meshes with a corresponding .pinion on a transverse spindle 61. Y

This transverse spindle is provided at one end with a sprocket 62' which is engaged b-y the endless chain 34 whereby the levers 46 are opened and closed in unison with the levers 15 v A horizontally disposed crosshead 63 is carried on the upper ends of a pair of vertical push rods 64 passing through vclearance holes 65 in the lower flanges of the beams 19 and said crosshead is provided with a pair of spaced transverse plungers 66 which are normally disposed intermediate the pairs of c0- operating levers above the aws 55 as clearly shown in Figure 5. f Y

The push rods V64 are guided in suitable bearings 67 and the lower ends thereof are connected by a cross bar 68 carrying a roller 69 adapted to bear against the face of a cam 70 on the shaft 26.

A spring 71 may be provided formaintaining the roller 19 in contact with the cam 'Z0 are closed twice upon each pair of projecting flanges 14 of the containers and the plungers on the crossheads are depressed between such actuations in lorder to give a downward Yset to the inner horizontal edges of the said flanges. j

For this purpose the cams 29 and 58 are rotated at twice the speed of the shaft 26.

After passing from station II the cartons 11 and containers are successively located at station IH (Figure 7) where the side and end seams, which are then in the condition shown in Figure 11, are simultaneously pressed against the surface of the container (Figure 12) by means of a pressing plunger 72.

fhe pressing plunger, which conforms approximately in shape and size to the top of the wrapper 12 is fitted to the lower end of a vertical rod 73 which is mounted in guide bearings 74 and is connected by means of a rigid coupling 75 of angular formation, to a vertically reciprocating bar 76 provided with-a roller 77 engaging a cam 78 on the shaft 26.

` rlhe plunger rod 73 may be provided with a weight to ensure the plunger being pressed firmly against the wrapper and a buifer spring 7 9 may be providedto obviate shock and prevent distortion of the package.

In lieu of employing aL pressing Vplunger 72 as described, the seanied or folded joints may be pressed into position against the surface of the wrapper by means of mechanism for holding the flaps of the cartons 11 and not forming part of the present invention.

It will be clear from the foregoing descriptiouthat, when thek cartons are registered successivelywith thefolding mechanism, the edges of the top portions of the foil containers project upwardly forming vertical flanges disposed within and adjacent'to extensions on the` side portions of. the containers kas shown in v,Figure 8.

As the cartons successively approach station I, the opposed arms 18 supporting the jaw carrying levers 15' are disposed in their elevatedlpositions whereby the jaws 16 are clear of the flanges 14 of the containers.

`rEhe jaws 16 are then lowered and the control cams are` actuated-whereby thesprings 28 associated with the upper extensions of the levers 15 will cause the jaws 16 to move inwardly to engagethe flanges of the foil and bend the same into conformity therewith (see Figure 9).

Further movement of the control cams causes the jaws 16 to be opened and the slotted plunger plate 40 is moved downwardly whereby the plungers 41 thereon will impart a downward set to the upper extremities or liorizoiitalportion of the flanges 14 (see Figure 10). j

Upon the retraction of Athe plungers, the jaws 16 are moved inwardly a secondA time thus completing the first fold by pressing the downwardly turned extremities against Vthe adjacent inclined portions (Figure 11).

firmly.

Vreadily formed by means of the apparatus above described, the flanges 14 being first bent into the position shown in Figure 13 by means of the jaws 16 and 15 and then pressed against the container by means of plungers as 472 or 16 or by means of a pressing plunger as 2. Y

c It will be apparent that, in lieu of providing two pairs of levers at station I as shown, a single pair having bifurcated lower ends, similar to those at station II, may be employed. Y j

Likewise, forming levers as shown at station I may be provided at station II in lieu of those shown.

Whilst, for example, the invention yhas been described and illustrated as applied to a particular type of apparatus adapted to form and handle containers which are open at the top and arranged to be closed by means of separate top portions, it will be obvious that it Amay be readily modified bv those skilled in the art to operate in conjunction with other types of machines and to fold the meeting edges of containers of various constructions.

I claim: 'Y

1. In apparatus for thepurposes set forth, a pair of levers mounted on a common p1vot, jaws on the leversl adapted to bend the flanges of containers into an inclined position, extensions on the levers, aspring connecting said extensions and tending to maintain the jaws in their closed positions,-and a cam arranged between and bearing against the said extensions and adapted to open the jaws at appropriate intervals.

2. In apparatus according to claim 1, ya

plunger normally disposed above the cooperating jaws and means for depressing said plunger when the jaws are opened Aafter engaging a fiange of the container, whereby the free edge of said flange will be turned down into a position substantially parallel to its original position. 4

3. In apparatus for the purposes set forth, a pair of levers mounted on a common pivot, jaws on the levers adapted to bend the flanges of a. container located therebelow into an inclined position, extensions on the levers, a spring connecting' the extensions and tending to maintain the jaws in 'their closed positions, a cam arranged between and bearing against the extensions, a plunger normally disposed above the co-operating njaws, and means for raising and lowering the plunger, characterized in-that the cams are 'controlled so as to cause the jaws to close twice'upon each projecting flange of the container and the plunger is depressed and elevated after `the first operation of the jaws in order to turn down the free edge of the flange whereby, upon the second operation of the jaws, the said, free edge will be pressed firmly against the inclined portion of the iange adjacent thereto. v j

4. In apparatus according to claim 3, `a plunger conforming approximately in size andshape to the container, and means for causing the plunger to engage the inclined flanges ofthe container after the operation of the jaws and press them rmlyagainst the adjacent surface of the container.

5. In apparatus for folding parallelly ldis-- posed flanges of portions of a container, an

intermittently movable conveyor adapted to successively move the containers vto a plurality of stations, pairs lof opposed jaws at :two of the stations adapted to simultaneously turn inwardly the opposed flanges at the sides and ends of the container, a pair of plungers associated with each pair of aws and adapted-to be depressed in unison when said jaws are opened to turn down the free edges of theflanges, and means at one of said stations for pressing the folded flanges firmly against the surface of the container.

7. In apparatus according to l claim 6, a supporting member arranged above one of the stations, two pairs of double ended levers pivotally mounted on the supporting member, and carrying the said jaws,springs connecting the upper ends of each pair of levers, operating cams arranged between the said upper ends of each pair of levers and means for raising and lowering the supporting members'supporting said levers.

8. In apparatus for folding parallelly disposed flanges of a container, an intermittently movable conveyor adapted to successively movevthe containers to a plurality of stations, pairs of co-operating levers at. twoyof the stations, jaws on the lower ends of said levers adapted to simultaneously turn inwardly thek opposed flanges at the sides and ends of the container, supporting members for the pairs of opposed levers, a drive shaft, cams on the drive shaft adapted to raise and lower the members supporting the opposed levers, cams associated with the drive shaft for actuating the levers to open and close the jaws thereon, a pair of plungers associated with each pair of jaws, and cams on the drive shaft for causing said pairs of plungers to be depressed in unison when the adjacent jaws are opened, whereby the free edges of the flanges on the container will be turned downwardly thereby. y

9. Apparatus according to claim 8 wherein the plungers are of relatively narrow cross section and are disposed between the respective pairs of levers adjacent to the jaws thereon.

10. Apparatus for folding parallelly arranged contiguous flanges on four sided containers of yieldable material comprising pairs of laterally movable jaws adapted to engage both sides of the flanges at opposite sides of the container, correspondingly inclined faces on the jaws for bending said fianges inwardly over the container, similar pairs of jaws for engaging and bending inwardly the flanges at the ends of the container, means for operating the first-mentioned pairs of aws in advance of the last-mentioned jaws and means for pressing the inclined portions of the side and end flanges against the adjacent surface of the container.

11. In apparatus for folding parallelly arranged flanges according to claim 10, means for turning down the free edges of the inwardly inclined portions of the side and end fianges into positions approximately parallel to their original positions.

l2. In apparatus for securing closures to containers, said containers and closures having parallelly disposed pairs of contiguous flanges disposed substantially at right angles to the plane of the closure, co-operating jaws, inclined faces on the jaws arranged to engage opposite sides of the flanges and shaped to bend said flanges inwardly over the container, means for moving said cooperating jaws towards and from each other in a plane substantially parallel to the plane of the closure, and means for pressing the inclined flanges against the adjacent surface of the container.

13. In apparatus for securing closures to containers by folding parallelly disposed contiguous flanges of the containers and closures, pivoted levers, jaws on the pivoted levers, .inclined faces on the jaws arranged to engage opposite sides of the flanges and shaped to bend said flanges atan angle to their original positions, means for operating the jaws, means movable substantially at right angles to the movement of the jaws for turning down the free edges of the inclined flanges into positions substantially parallel to their original positions, and means for pressingthe inclined flanges formed by said jaws against the adjacent surface of the container.

14C. Apparatus according Vto claim 13 wherein a pair of co-operating pivoted levers are mounted on a common pivot pin.

l5. In apparatus of the type set fo-rth, cooperating pairs of pivoted levers, co-operating jaws on the levers arranged to engage opposite sides of flanges on containers, means for moving the containers into register Vwith the said jaws, inclined faces on the jaws adapted to bend said flanges into inclined positions, means for opening and closing the jaws, means for raising the jaws in unison whereby they will clear the flanges of the containers as the latter are being moved into and out of operative relationship, means movable substantially at right angles to the opening and closing movements of the jaws for turning down the free ends of the inclined flanges formed by said jaws, and means for pressing the inclined flanges against the adjacent surface of the container.

16. In apparatus according to claim 5, a support, a pair of double ended levers mounted on the support, bifurcated lower ends on the levers carrying two of the pairs of cooperating jaws, and means for raising and lowering the support at appropriate intervals. v

nature.

FRANCIS HAROLD DANIELL. 

